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New in the last two weeks: From Heath Nock today during his guest spot at Handcrafted Miami: And the start of my back, a Sailor Jerry remix from Chris Buckholts at Howl Tattoo/Gallery in Fort Myers, Florida. Little bit of a cover up in that. Kinda self conscious about seeing my entire back but whatever you guys are kind.

Got a couple of filler tattoos last night on my right arm. Both done by James Clements at Fortune and Glory in Shreveport, LA.

I just booked an appointment with Matt Arriola in August. The next 2 months or so are looking pretty cool right now... July 9th & 10th I'm getting tattooed by Freddy Corbin again, August 2nd I'm having a session on my backpiece with Chad Woodley, August 10th I'm getting tattooed by Matt Arriola, and August 22nd I'm having another session on my back with Chad. It's going to be so expensive, but so cool.

got this little grimm-tiger back in march from jelle nelemans

There are some outstanding back pieces in this thread and it's ridiculous. @ironchef I think you were at King Ave getting work done on your back while I was having my second session with Chris. I think it was on a Tuesday some time back in May if I'm not mistaken. I wanted to get a closer look at it but didn't want to bother you guys. As for back pieces go here is one that O'Donnell just did. Not sure if it's from anyone here but this thing is unreal.

Well please excuse my typos on a phone on a bus. I actually almost always go the route of minimal input on artists I like their stuff. You will most probably have to give at least a direction to go in. I mean my rule is 3 words or less. So far things have turned out OK haha. I got my entire leg tattoo from waist to foot off of two words and honestly it is fantastic. My suggestion is to just tell the guy/girl who is gunna tattoo you what your thinking. Also I wouldn't say "tattoo whatever". This has come up in another thread before and honestly I think you will want to give some direction. I mean would you be cool with anything and everything? I know @bunnyswitchblade has a couple of very interesting tattoos from just going that route but you better be willing to take what they give ya. If you like skulls, snakes, daggers, and eagles then say that. They will know what to do. Good luck with your new tattoo(s)!

Haha, I've noticed this too. Reminds me of the Spider Murphy's aftercare card, I always thought it was hilarious. "Don't get wasted, pass out on your friend's couch, and let the dog lick it all night."

essentially i am. but of course you can have an opinion and in actuality we definitely should but, we should realize that its a point you cant hold onto too dearly. tattooing is based on copying and as the industry builds its almost essential to do so, so there is a sound foundation to build upon. its as f'ed up to copy and it is essential to do so all at the same time. i dont like being copied but, in the end, if you copy me that just means i win. then of course you have to ask yourself about those who copy the men and women in this industry who are no longer with us. is it any better to copy the flash they left behind then it is to copy those that are alive? every tattooer should know there is a difference between being an artist and a craftsmen. they should also recognize the fine line they walk between them. the non tattooers should stop putting people on a pedestal and carrying a cross for the justice they seek. no one has any copy rights on anything they tattoo. and things that are put on line are in the public domain unless otherwise stated. when do you think the last time any tattooer filled out the paper work on a tattoo they did. i would be shocked to find out that anyone files those papers(copyright) on their tattoos. oh and the fact that once you sell the design to the client by putting it on their skin, you essentially sold them the rights of the art, and if you dont state in the release that they cant use the art for anything else and you eventually do, they might actually have a sound case against you(the artist) for copyright infringement. does everyone see where this can all go if we start getting technical or am i alone on this. so yes its f'ed up but at the end of the day is it something you really can do something about? can you tell a tattooer that sees themselves as a pure craftsmen that theyre wrong for copying? can you call the tattooer that fancies themselves the artist that they are dumb for not having a deeper contract? ahhh the never ending cycle of questions that this topic can bring :) - - - Updated - - - ^^^^^ kinda ranty and run on... so sorry

Man I just love cats so much

Yeah, ever since I got back Monday one of mine has been on me constantly--I think he thinks if he can figure out a way to sit on my lap 24/7 I will never leave the house again. He tried the face-batting technique but bothering the wounded bits of me nets the most dramatic response.

There are some good shops in the LA area worth checking out. Bob Roberts Spotlight tattoo, Darkhorse Tattoo, Gold Rush Tattoo, a lot more, but I know time is limited. Who are you getting tattooed by in San Diego? @kimkong - - - Updated - - - Can't wait for my little road trip on Monday. I am going to Seattle to get tattooed by Matt Arriola but appt is not till late in the day so going to visit some other shops and hang out in Seattle, probably come back Tuesday evening. After that I probably will slow down until my appt with Matt Howse in August.

What @Delicious and @Joe Shit said there. I'm looking at the portfolio on the Cry Baby website and the first tattoo there is a fallen soldier memorial and it's such a mess. There's no depth or contrast there at all so the design isn't readable, the lines and shading are weak, the geometry of the rifle makes no sense, I don't even know what he was attempting with the boots, there's blue lines instead of stars in the flag...I'm not going to go on. It's a bad tattoo. Take a look through the links Joe posted, see who does tattoos you really respond to and take it from there.

@Pacem what I would do is go to your consult, and tell him what imagery you are attracted to and the particular pieces in his portfolio that you enjoy. It really helps to have -some- sort of idea as to what the client wants, so that when you say "tattoo me" and had something along the lines of a banana tattoo in mind, you don't end up with a hedgehog. So yeah, I'm sure if your artist is able to get a good grasp on your sense of aesthetic and tastes, he will be much better equipped to come up with something original that has the look you are searching for.

I do have to mention it seems dogs like to lick fresh tattoos...my buddies dog always try to lick my fresh tattoos...gross

Your cat is a cat, but yes. One of my cats always craves attention when we leave her alone for a couple of days and while she left my fresh tattoo alone she decided that it was a good idea to wake me up in the middle of the night by pawing me in the eye. The time before she tried pawing me in the mouth but I guess she didn't think that was effective enough.

Small world! I remember meeting you and most important do remember the lower leg sleeve. That thing was insane and the pics you've posted don't even do it justice dude. Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome.

Got a couple of new filler tattoos on my right arm last night. Both done by James Clements in Shreveport. We're getting close to finishing off my sleeve at this point.

Hey dude! We've met! I had just finished my leg with Chris O'Donnell and my pal was getting tattooed by Tony Hundahl at Kings Ave. You were starting your half-sleeve with Chris. Good to see you on here!

If you have more tattoo machines than clients, that is too much. Guy who tried to be a tattooer I know, worked one day a week had to bring his own clientele, always had a new machine to show off, never had anyone to tattoo.

Fixed that for you. :)

Here we go. Apologies for the suit...unfortunately my plans for world domination have gone to shit so I still have to work for the man. Really cool experience. Can't wait to read the book. Ed was super nice and friendly.

I'm a new poster here, and thought i'd say hi in this thread. My backpiece, finished a couple of months ago, by the amazing Stewart Robson of Frith Street tattoo. It was an absolute pleasure getting this piece, and getting to spend time with such a knowledgeable and insightful guy; an experience I was very lucky to have. Excuse the inlarged instagram pic, it's all I have

I know this is the Bad Tattoo sub-forum, but let's all take a moment to remember how fucking cool Freddy Corbin's face tattoos are.

Hi, I've been a tattoo enthusiast for a few years now and I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the artist interviews on this site so thought I'd finally sign up to the forum. I'm a big fan of Japanese tattooing and have 2 three quarter sleeves done by Diego Azaldegui in Leeds UK. I'm currently deciding on what I want for my back piece and hoping to get started on that soon.

Where are my manners? I've been posting in the forum and I have yet to introduce myself, so here goes nothing. I'm 23 years young and as I've said before currently live at home with the parents in Central Jersey and work in NYC. Growing up I always admired tattoos and wanted to get one mainly because of my fathers small winged dragon that he has on his arm that he got when he was young (wish he'd let me snap a pic). Once I turned 18 I knew I was going to get a tattoo it was just a matter of who, what, where and when. If there was one thing I did know..... it was that I wanted a quality tattoo and was interested in Japanese as I was just fascinated by the imagery and artwork. A few years ago I eventually found out about Kings Ave and just loved Justin Weatherholtz work so I booked an appointment for my first tattoo..... a calf sleeve. I told myself and more importantly my mother that it would be my first and last tattoo. A year later I got an Oni on my other leg from Justin. A year after that I'm currently getting a half sleeve with a chest panel from O'Donnell with upcoming tattoos from Chad Koeplinger, Henning, and Rubendall. So much for only one tattoo. Pics below!

Please take a moment to check out the site. We are super excited about the tattooer lineup! NAZTF Artists

@Lori Todd Those are gorgeous!! gorgeous! Super jealous of your back right now. This trade was finished last night. Nothing majestic, but I'm grateful for the rad exchange of friendship. Go get tattooed at 13!

That is my thoughts exactly, but I don't want to stop anyone from submitting what they feel they want to. How does the saying go again, when it is just an outline it should look good, when it's shaded it should look finished and when it's colored it should look perfect.

I'm jealous!

few more from the last week and my Buddy rick williams finished his side of this split!

A number of years ago a tattooer here in Portland did a tattoo on one of the trailblazers. That player had a contract with a local company called Nike. Pretty soon the players tattoo was being used for shirts, and even window decals. Tattooer sued, settled out of court, for years I was behind this guy getting his money for Nike ripping him off. That is until recently when I was shown the design in a Dover Clip art book you can buy at any bookstore for $9. It just showed me that a lot of the times I don't really know the origin of design, and people don't really create everything they tattoo. There are definitely a few examples on this thread of people shamelessly ripping off tattoos, or at least to the best of my knowledge that is what I perceive it to be. I just think iin general I see people getting called out for stuff neither person created and people claiming stuff they didn't do. Do we owe the guy who did the flower exploding birds the first time royalites, what about the first script carpe diem? Even the best shops do dumb stuff that people bring off the internet, I have seen it with my two eyes. I just wonder where we stop giving credit and start. If it's a dumb tattoo or insignificant tattoo is okay? If it's not done by someone with recognition it's okay? If you can do it better it's okay? Is it okay as long as they aren't a tattooer. I don't know? But saying theft is theft is quite an understatement.

I just got my back lined a few days ago and I was expecting the ass portion to be excruciatingly painful. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't bad at all. It was actually one of the easier spots in my opinion. No drugs or anything. Just eat right and sleep well beforehand.

@Takeaway: Oh, YOU'RE that guy! Absolutely amazing tattoo. I really enjoyed watching the pics @Stewart Robson posted of the progress. The whole thing's great, but that background is particularly inspired. And welcome to LST. Helluva first post.

it is a big butt though... bulbous was the perfect adjective...

None of this relates to tattooing.

If it ain't a metal shirt, I'm not wearing it.

They are and it has 52 cat prints in it. I can't wait to get a copy.

What are you playing? In related news, I may have found a drummer to play with!

Finally went over to White Lotus and met Stacey! She's so sweet and the shop is awesome. So I put down a deposit and two weeks from Friday I will be finishing it.she said she could pound it out all in one sitting... and a GREAT rate. My jaw hit the floor when she gave me my quote. Ill post photos when I'm done

First I find the Beer thread and now THIS? Man, I love this place ;')

Lets put this to bed with this timely shot of Lemmy

Chris Garver Invisible NYC - - - Updated - - - not sure how to add a lager pic..

Had a DAMN good time with the Stells and the folks who showed up at Pair o Dice to wish Richard a Happy Birthday and shop opening. That shop is going to push out some killer tattoos.

@Kahlan - they said in the video "any where, any size tattoo" - they showed one guy who had a dime sized logo on the inside of his ankle. They went on to say the one sales person had a commission that month of $25k with the tattoo, had they not had the tattoo it would have been around $15k. When you start talking about $10k a month extra, I think most would give up a square inch of their skin in a nondescript place

Bump again. Was reading the Nick Rodin interview in the last TAM where he was talking about hurrying to get a ton of tattoos when he was just starting out.. and I remembered Oliver Peck saying a similar thing, how he always wanted full coverage and how they had to hurry up and knock it out (and then TAM graced us with funny n00dz of the two).. but it got me wondering about how other LSTers are faring -- are people on track? Does anyone else have a timeline? Does anyone else give a shit? Tougher if you're not a tattooer, it seems. I'm coming up on the big 3-0 and not nearly as "done" as I'd like to be. Always said I wanted my back started by 30 but it's comin down to the wire and I got bills and all the bullshit I didn't have when I was 18, 21. Need to knock out some big stuff this year to keep on track! Get my priorities in order!

Well, the arm they're on has got 20 years on you!

Moops?

I thought his chest said "Moped" originally

"Well, I finally got my period. I just wish my breasts weren't so sore and tender..." (I was going to make a comment like "Only I can prevent Breast Cancer"... but then thought it may be slightly on the not cool side... but y'all can make up your own minds ;) )